Stud staple



April 1, 1941.

C. SCHENCK STUD STAPLE Filed Jan. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l JMenlo Z 636011615 Solwzzak.

April 1, 1941. c sc cK 2,236,581

STUD strum:

Filed Jan. 31, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Gfarlas Sake/wk.

urn-4 Patented Apr. 1,1941

' STUD STAPLE Charles Schenck, Cooperaburg, Pa, assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 31, 1940, Serial No. 316,530 2 10 Claims.

My invention relates to the construction of walls, and more particularly to a device for fastening plaster board or other wall boardto metal studding. v

The use of metal studs in the framing of wal creates numerous problems, among which is that of providing means to fasten plaster board, rock lath and the like to such studs. Various clips have heretofore been devised whereby the edges of a strip of plaster board may be fastened to the metal studs against which the plaster board hears. it isobvious however that the use of such clips provides only a relatively small number of fastening points for each strip of plaster board, unless the plaster board is cut to such dimensions that its vertical edges coincide with the vertical edges of the studs, in which case a plurality oi fastening clips may be used along such edges. This method, however. involves waste and delay. It is obviously desirable, therefore, to provide means whereby plaster board of any dimensions, laid at random, .may be fastened at points intermediate its edges to the studs against which the plaster board bears, and it is an object of my invention to provide aiclip for this purpose which is simple to construct, easy to apply and positive in operation. Other objects of my in vention will appear from a consideration of the following drawings and detailed specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved clip;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a metal stud and a piece of plaster board showing the first step in the application of the clip Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a metal stud and a piece of plaster board showing a later step in the application of the clip;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a metal stud and a piece of plaster board showing the clip in its final operative position with relation to the stud and the plaster board; and

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing the clip in pl ce in a section of wall.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows the clip A, which is made of spring plaster board.

board and the flange of the stud to which the plaster board is to be fastened, said legs H and I2 are provided with projections l3 and H which extend inwardly towards each other a suflicient distance to provide shoulders which will engage the inner surfaces of the flanges of the stud when the clip is placed inoperative position therewith. Below the shoulders I! and M the legs are again bent downwardly and outwardly to form portions II and I which diverge at a relatively acute angle to each'other and terminate in portions H and I! which are parallel to each other and are spaced apart at approximately the same distance as the portions II and l2. The portions I1 and I8 preferably terminate in points-l9 and 20.

Figure 2 shows the method applying the clip in the erection of a wall. In said figure, 2! is a sectional view of a stud having flanges 22 and 23, and 24 is a sectional-Mew of a strip of plaster board laid against said flanges 2'2 and 23. As shown in said figure, the clip A is held against the plaster board withthe points I! and 20 opposite the edges of the flanges 22 and 23. The points l9 and 20 are then pressed or driven through .the

It will be seen that as the clip is driven through the plaster board the portions 11 and I8 of the legs of the clip, being straight and parallel, assure that the clip is driven straight and true.

As the clip is driven further, the inwardly com I verging portions l5 and ii of the legs engage the edges of the flanges 22 and 23, and force the legs of the clipapart as shownin Figure 3. Since said portions l5 and i6 are at a relatively acute angle with respect to each other no great diflicultyis experienced in forcing them past the flanges 22 and 23. I have also found that this relationship between the portions l5 and it results in the least possible tearing and multilation of the plaster board as the clip is driven there-- through.

Figure 4 shows the clip A in its final operative position with relation to the stud 2| and the plaster board 24. As shown in this drawing, the I head ill has been driven against the outer surface of the plaster board N. The shoulders i3 and I4, having passes beyond the edges of the flanges 22 and 23, have been forced inwardly towards each other by the resilience of the clip, and rest against and upon the inner surfaces of the flanges 22 and 23, thereby securely fastening the plaster board 24 to the stud 2i.

As the shoulders II and I4 engage flanges 22 and 2I oi the stud, legs II and I2 are moved laterally apart to the extent necessary to permit shoulders l3 and I4 to pass said flanges. As a result a certain tearing or mutilation of the plasterboard will occur as shown at 25 and 26 in Figure 3, and 21 and 28 in Figure 4. The gradual divergence of portions l5 and I6 of the clip A assures that such tearing will be kept at a minimum.

It willbe seen from the above description that it is because of the resilience of the clip that it is enabled, after the shoulders l3 and II havepassed beyond the edges of the flanges 22 and 23, to return to a position wherein said shoulders will effectively engage said flanges, and it is this element of resiliency which constitutes the principal novel utility of the device, since I am not aware that the prior art contains a device so characterized. It will also be seen that the peculiar configuration of the legs of the clip permits it to be driven into place with a maximum of accuracy and a minimum of effort, and with the least possible damage to the plaster board.

In Figure 5 I show in perspective a section of wall consisting of studs 2|, with strips of plaster board 24 fastened on either side thereof by clips A. It is obvious that with my clip the plaster board may be laid at random without the necessity of bringing the vertical edges of the board in line with the flanges of the studs. In this drawing, 25 and 26 show my clips applied to horizontal and diagonal strapping used to brace the studs.

At the junction of two or more strips of plaster board I may use finger clips 21 to secure said strips to each other. These clips are old and form no part of my invention since they do not possess any functional relationship to the clip A.

An additional advantage of my clip, not heretofore noted, is the small area of wire which is left exposed on the surface of the plaster board when the clip is in operative position, since it is well known that when plaster is applied to plaster board, the clips by which the plaster board is fastened to the studs are apt to cause discoloration or cracking of the plaster. Consequently,

it is important to have the exposed area of such clips as small as possible.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clip of the class described comprising a head composed of resilient material, and a pair of legs, each leg having an inwardly extending shoulder intermediate its ends.

2. A clip of the class described composed of resilient material, comprising a head and a pair of substantially parallel legs at right angles to the body portion, each leg having a shoulder intermediate its ends extending in the direction of the other leg.

3. A clip of the class described formed of resilient material, comprising a head and a pair of spaced, parallel legs, each leg having an inwardly extending shoulder intermediate its ends capable of resiliently engaging the inner surfaces of the flanges of a studding member.

4. A clip of the class described including a head composed of resilient material and a pair of spaced parallel legs, said legs comprising parallel portions adjacent the head, inwardly extending shoulders, and portions diverging downwardly and outwardly from said shoulders at an acute angle to each other and terminating in portions parallel to each other and to the portions of the legs adjacent the head.

5'. A clip of the class described made of resilient wire and comprising a head and a pair of legs parallel to each other and extending at right angles to the head, each leg at a point intermediate its ends being bent sharply inwardly towards the other leg to form' a shoulder and then gradually outwardly.

6. A clip of the class described composed of resilient wire and including a head and a pair of legs, said legs comprising straight parallel portions adjacent the head and at right angles thereto, shoulders extending inwardly towards each other at substantially a right angle to the head, and portions diverging downwardly and outwardly at an acute angle to each other and terminating portions parallel to each other and to the portions of the legs adjacent the head, all points in said clip lying in the same plane.

7. A clip of the class described comprising a head composed of resilient material, and a pair of legs, each leg having an inwardly extending shoulder intermediate its ends, said legs being substantially equidistant from each other above and below said shoulders.

8. A clip of the class described composed of resilient material, comprising a head and a pair of legs all located in substantially the same plane, each leg including an initial portion adjacent the head and extending substantially at right angles thereto, an intermediate, inwardly extending shoulder, and a terminal portion substantially coaxial with the initial portion.

9. A clip of the class described for securing two elements together, composed of resilient material, comprising a head and a pair of legs, each leg having an inwardly extending shoulder intercombined thickness of the elements to be secured, an intermediate, inwardly extending shoulder and a terminal portion substantially coaxial with the initial portion.

' CHARLES SCHENCK. 

